All Wisconsin residents should be paying attention to discussion on the state scene about the future of UW-Extension, and UW-Extension Specialists. There’s currently a proposed 18% cut being planned for all of Extension that could impact all positions from your local county extension staff, right on through to extension research in fields and on farms.
Dr. Shawn Conley, UW-Extension Soybean Specialist, explained more about what’s at risk with these proposed deep cuts from county fairs to in-field, on farm research..
Columbia County UW-Extension will be hosting two public meetings to seek input regarding the restructuring of Cooperative UW-Extension. Attached is additional information. A link to the complete proposed plan was included in the weekly update sent out on Monday. The Chancellor is asking for input by January 25, 2016 as teams begin an implementation process.
- It is unclear at this time exactly how the restructuring will impact Extension and the Columbia County 4-H program. These sessions give you an opportunity to study the plan and generate lists of the plan strengths, concerns and questions you would like answered. If you are unable to attend one of the sessions and would like to see the plan or comment on it, I provided a link in the Weekly Update that was sent on 1.11.16 and here as well.
http://about.ces.uwex.edu/our-future/recommendations/
http://about.ces.uwex.edu/our-future/
January 20th
1:00-2:00 pm nEXT Generation Town Hall Webinar hosted by UW-Extension Chancellor Sandeen
2:15-4:00 Implications to Columbia County UW-Extension Stakeholder Dialogue
January 21st
6:00-8:00 pm nEXT Generation Reorganization Overview & Implications to Columbia County UW-Extension Stakeholder Dialogue
Where: Columbia County Annex, 120 W. Conant St., Portage, WI (608-742-9680)
Why: Governor Walker’s approved 2015 budget included significant cuts in state funding to the University of Wisconsin System, including UW-Extension. The current Cooperative UW-Extension fiscal year 2016 budget will be reduced by $3.6 million. The fiscal impact of the cuts make the current UW-Extension educational delivery structure unsustainable.